Samsung slaps Nokia in the face by opening a new R&D facility in its hometown

Samsung has announced plans to open a new research and development facility in Nokia’s hometown of Espoo, Finland, in a slap in the face for the Finnish mobile phone giant.

According to Reuters, the new R&D facility will be the first of its kind by the Korean electronics giant in Scandinavia, with the move coming after Nokia announced plans to cut 10,000 jobs in June of last year.

Many of the 10,000 job losses were in the company’s world headquarters of Espoo, with the Finnish phone giant offering staff support in finding new employment and establishing new businesses through its Bridge program, which led in part to the establishment of a smartphone start-up called Jolla.

“Nokia will offer training, funding, and help identify business opportunities and partnerships for those interested in starting a new business or a company on their own which can fuel new growth for impacted communities,” the company stated at the time.

Samsung joins a number of leading tech companies, including Huawei and Intel, to set up research facilities in Espoo following the job losses.

Meanwhile, in October last year, SmartCompany reported rumours the troubled Finnish phone giant is in the process of selling its corporate headquarters in the city, with plans to lease office space in the building after the sale was completed.

After initial reports about a possible sale leaked from staff members, the company confirmed plans to sell the complex without relocating as part of an ongoing cost-cutting strategy.

In December, Nokia announced it had sold the building for €170 million, with the company also closing its mobile phone factory in the nearby town of Salo.

Since the sale and closures, it has emerged that Samsung has overtaken Nokia as the most popular mobile phone brand in its own home market.

In an embarrassing blow to Nokia and its embattled chief executive, Stephen Elop, Nokia only managed to ship 196,000 units to its home market, compared to 211,000 handsets by Samsung.